iPhone/Touch/iPad app launch & marketing advice/feedback

[Richard.curran]

Hello Everybody,

I'm launching an iPhone app and if you guys have any experiences you can share, advice you can give me for marketing and maybe even some feedback it would be great.

Some of you will know about my business already, but here's a short introduction to bring you up to speed.

I run a website, Low Price Lessons, that helps learner drivers find their ideal driving instructor. I run this business alongside my brother, Jamie. The driving instructor industry has not yet embraced the internet, social networking or mobile technologies yet - with the vast majority of instructors relying on traditional media to market their lessons.

In addition to the website we've developed an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad application to help learner drivers. In addition to being able to find instructors nearby using the GPS on their device (or postcode search) learners can study for their Hazard Perception and Theory Test using the app - plus we're providing hints and tips for learners direct from instructors through the hints and tips section.

The app went live on the App Store yesterday, here's a link, and so far I've been telling the instructors who are members of the website about the app. Other than that I've hit a dead end in terms of low hanging fruit. There are methods of advertising which are expensive, I'd rather avoid that.

Please share experiences you've had with app development, advertising & marketing and if you can - please give me feedback about the app and what I've been up to.

Here's a little more about what makes our app stand out,
We're all in one: Hazard Perception & Theory Test & Book instructor & Hints - think Bold fabric conditioner and detergent.
We're cheap! Our price point is lower than individual apps for Theory test or Hazard Perception - so we're even better value!
We're beautiful : Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, of course, but we've put a lot of effort into making sure that our app is good looking as pupils will be looking at it extended periods of time.
We're fun: we're the only app of its kind in not just content but 'playability' as with the multiplayer option learners can test their skills against their friends and family, even their driving instructor. Pass it on quiz means only one application/handset needed to play with friends.

And that's pretty much it. I believe we have a really strong platform with the iTunes app store and I think our proposition is very attractive. Our drawbacks are there is no free version, only the £1.19 version and we're only starting out - as a small company we don't have the sort of resources BSM or AA would have to compete.

Thanks for reading and I am looking forward to discussing this with you.

Rich

[sohaib]

Originally Posted by Richard.curran

Hello Everybody,

I'm launching an iPhone app and if you guys have any experiences you can share, advice you can give me for marketing and maybe even some feedback it would be great.

Some of you will know about my business already, but here's a short introduction to bring you up to speed.

I run a website, Low Price Lessons, that helps learner drivers find their ideal driving instructor. I run this business alongside my brother, Jamie. The driving instructor industry has not yet embraced the internet, social networking or mobile technologies yet - with the vast majority of instructors relying on traditional media to market their lessons.

In addition to the website we've developed an iPhone/iPod Touch/iPad application to help learner drivers. In addition to being able to find instructors nearby using the GPS on their device (or postcode search) learners can study for their Hazard Perception and Theory Test using the app - plus we're providing hints and tips for learners direct from instructors through the hints and tips section.

The app went live on the App Store yesterday, here's a link, and so far I've been telling the instructors who are members of the website about the app. Other than that I've hit a dead end in terms of low hanging fruit. There are methods of advertising which are expensive, I'd rather avoid that.

Please share experiences you've had with app development, advertising & marketing and if you can - please give me feedback about the app and what I've been up to.

Here's a little more about what makes our app stand out,
We're all in one: Hazard Perception & Theory Test & Book instructor & Hints - think Bold fabric conditioner and detergent.
We're cheap! Our price point is lower than individual apps for Theory test or Hazard Perception - so we're even better value!
We're beautiful : Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that, of course, but we've put a lot of effort into making sure that our app is good looking as pupils will be looking at it extended periods of time.
We're fun: we're the only app of its kind in not just content but 'playability' as with the multiplayer option learners can test their skills against their friends and family, even their driving instructor. Pass it on quiz means only one application/handset needed to play with friends.

And that's pretty much it. I believe we have a really strong platform with the iTunes app store and I think our proposition is very attractive. Our drawbacks are there is no free version, only the £1.19 version and we're only starting out - as a small company we don't have the sort of resources BSM or AA would have to compete.

Thanks for reading and I am looking forward to discussing this with you.

Rich

Hi Rich,

I was also planning on developing an app for the the iPhone/iPod platform, and did some research a while ago.

I found that a lot of new developers or apps, have the option to give free promotional codes out. You can utilise these promotional codes by offering it to people who are willing to write a review for your app on the app store or review it elsewhere.

You have a massive market, as im sure there are thousands of people wanting to learn to drive that own an iPhone, iPod or even an iPad. But, that is the hard part, making your app well known.

You could try to make it free for one day, but try to publicise that one day as much as you can. There are certain websites such as: http://freeappaday.com which you could try to contact and get them to promote your app.

I think most people will be a bit wary of purchasing your app without any reviews, so try to get some reviews.

I would be more than happy to write you a review if you provide me with a promotional code!

Sorry my answer is all over the place, but I hope that helps!

Thanks.

[Richard.curran]

Hi Sohaib,

How are things going for you? Thanks for your reply to my thread, I've been looking into the FAAD website.

Its very interesting and I've emailled the address they have there to ask for more info. I've done a little reading into it and it appears that they normally charge for the service, $600 +, yet I did read that they offer a free advertisement for first time developers with a genuinely compelling application - which I hope they view the LPL app as.

It would be really good to get some reviews but I think you only get 50 of them - which seems like a lot now but I'm going to hold off and see if I can get 50 app review sites to look at it, which might be reaching for the stars, although it would be great to have a positive review on the page. I'll look into generating a code and get back to you.

It would be marvellous if there were some driving instructors / learner drivers or even driving instructors in training who would like to take a look and review it as they're a part of the target market.

[sohaib]

Hi Richard, have you developed this app your self or had it developed?

I have a few ideas for you, but if you have got it developed then it may cost you even more, which may make my ideas unfeasible depending on your arrangements with the developer.

If you have developed it self, then I think they may be worth a consideration, if not already considered.

The ideas:
To introduce a 'lite' version of the app. I dont need to describe what a lite version would be :P but this maybe useful as it would give the potential customer a really good insight into what they may expect from the full app. This would also give you more exposure, as many people would download it as its free just to check it out, and if they end up liking it then they buy it.

Or introduce 'In App Purchases', so the base app would be free and you may make the search for a instructor part free of charge and give just one preview of the questions. Then the customer can purchase access to the app, eg by time-limit, so they could for example buy access for it for a week for 59p or a month for £1.19, this would also mean, if your customer should fail their theory test and this expires, you are capitalising on this and you are able to charge them again.

You may have seen the MyCarCheck App which utilises the In App Purchases function.

I also see that you have now got quite a few reviews, of which all are 5 Stars.

HTH

Thanks!

[Dave Scotford]

Some of us have BlackBerry and not iPhone.. don't forget us

[MarcDerby]

Originally Posted by Dave Scotford

Some of us have BlackBerry and not iPhone.. don't forget us

Yeah this is the problem with App's it is like bringing out a game on PS3 but wii, xbox360, psp and nintendo ds's owners can not play it. I am sure in a short time development of 1 app will cover all platforms without it costing a fortune.

Mobile websites are doing well as they work on all phone platforms at present and you can make these very uesful for your customers, but its not an app at the end of the day.

Well done on your App so far Richard.

Cheers
Marc - Add Digital

[Dave Scotford]

Originally Posted by MarcDerby

Yeah this is the problem with App's it is like bringing out a game on PS3 but wii, xbox360, psp and nintendo ds's owners can not play it. I am sure in a short time development of 1 app will cover all platforms without it costing a fortune.

Mobile websites are doing well as they work on all phone platforms at present and you can make these very uesful for your customers, but its not an app at the end of the day.

Very good point, didn't think about that!